February Mayor’s Column

Mayor’s Column

February

By Mayor Anne Gerwig

How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? If you feel like you’re losing steam, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, that point where our commitment to our resolutions starts to waiver. Hang in there, keep up the good work, and treat yourself to Wellington’s February events.

This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Spend this special day at one of Wellington’s great restaurants, shopping venues, or beautiful parks.

On Monday, February 19th, Americans across the country will celebrate Presidents Day. While many of us will take that time to relax with our families, it is also important for us to reflect on the historical significance of this holiday. Two of our greatest presidents were born this month—George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Their steadfast leadership and lasting contributions played a vital role in establishing the peace and freedom that we enjoy today.

To all of Wellington’s aspiring superstars — Wellington Idol is back this year, shining the spotlight on our wonderful local talent. Contestants must be at least eight years old to participate. The winner earns bragging rights and walks home with the $500 Grand Prize. Three runner-ups will win $250 prizes. Visit our website wellingtonfl.gov to download the registration packet. The deadline to register is Thursday, February 15th by 6:00 PM. Each year our community displays incredible talent, and I cannot wait to hear Wellington’s newest singing sensations.

Enjoy ongoing free entertainment at the Wellington Amphitheater with live concerts, movie nights and local singers. Our Thursday night “Food Truck Invasion” continues this month with live music at each event. View the schedule on our website wellingtonfl.gov for more details on all of the February events.

The Annual Tribute Music & Food Truck Festival returns to the Wellington Amphitheater this month, with two weekends full of food trucks, and music by some of the best tribute bands in all of South Florida. The Festival is scheduled Thursday through Saturday, February 15th through 17th and February 22nd through 24th, with approximately 10 to 15 food trucks attending each event from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm, and concerts starting at 7:00 pm. All events are FREE to attend.

We’re excited to announce a new series of free family-friendly events on Lake Wellington, located behind the Wellington Community Center. The three day events February 17, March 10, and April 14 feature a variety of activities between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. each day, which include kayaking, paddle boarding, bounce houses, lawn games, and demonstrations with local organizations under the pavilion. Additional scheduled activities include yoga, meditation, zumba, art activities with the Wellington Art Society, a reptile meet and greet, and more! Watch for more information on two evening lakeside events on March 20 and April 26. For updates and additional information please visit wellingtonfl.gov/Lakeside.

This year is shaping up to be a busy one around Wellington, starting with multiple Capital Improvement Projects.

To see a complete list of these and other upcoming projects, visit our Capital Projects webpage.

On behalf of Wellington Council and staff, I would like to extend a big thank you to the local businesses and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office representatives who participated in our roundtable discussion on December 21st, to discuss plans to combat drunk driving and underage drinking in our community, particularly during the equestrian season. We discussed possible solutions on how to work together to curb drunk driving and put an end to the problem of underage fake ID abuse in our Village. Together with our community partners and law enforcement, we will continue to implement strategies shared during this discussion, such as Operation Wild Stallion, and take tough action on those who break the law. Wellington works with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to provide timely information and encourage safety throughout our neighborhoods.

Please watch our very informative Public Service Announcements available on our YouTube page: http://bit.ly/1Ja1Xyi, and like and follow us on our social media pages.

I look forward to seeing you all around the Village this month, enjoying all that our Great Hometown has to offer.

Anne Gerwig and her husband, Alan, have lived in Wellington for 26 years with their three children - Jessica, Dane and Luke. Mrs. Gerwig is the Director of Client Communications for Alan Gerwig and Associates, Inc. located in Wellington. The company has provided civil and structural consulting engineering services throughout the state since 1998. In March 2016, Anne Gerwig was elected as the 6th Mayor of Wellington.

About Around Wellington

Around Wellington® is your resource for interesting stories, monthly columns on many areas of expertise, fun contests (with gift cards or tickets to events as the prizes), links to terrific local businesses, a monthly calendar and detailed community information. Learn more.